Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-07
Another Warning.


ability OF an arrest of the progress that
has for several years been apparenf
Unfortunately there is such probability
Evidence OF it is found In the uneasiness
which has seized upon investors, and
their eagerness TO sell out their present
holdings. 1t is no uncommon thing to find
capitalists who some years ago put their
money into manufacturing enterprises
with a view TO permanent investment,
now seeking TO withdraw it. In the State
Of Alabama, for instance, there have re-
emily been several notable cases which
prove the truth Of the assertion. One in
particular, at Birmingham, where the
owners of large iron works have bonded
them ana thus secured themselves against
probable loss, is a striking proof.
1t is true that progress in the South
was, in the beginning, in no sense the re-
suit of boom, but that on the contrary,
II was gradual and steady. The results of
investments were better than were antci-
pated by the investors. and this fact was
naturally potent in inducing additional
! investments. But suddenly an era of
speculation began, and now the absurdi-
" OF many schemes is SO appar-
ent that cautious investors refuse
to touch them. 1t is not
to be expected that capitalists will take
hold of schemes which past experiences
have taught them are nothing but the
cunningly laid traps of spectators.
WHAT capitalist Will believe that every
! little crossroads town in the State OF
Alabama is to become the centre of a
| great mining and manufacturing district?
| Similar pretensions have caused millions
TO be sunk in the West. and the lessons
! learned there will not be forgotten by the
men VINO control the money of the coun.
! try.
There can be no objection to healthy
progress, whether 1t be in the nature Of
| boom or not; but there is objection to the
wild nonsense scattered abroad concern
ing alleged bOoms, because this is the
thing that makes an arrest of progress
/ probable. The South has not heretofore
been the home OF dishonest business
methods, and it is plainly the duty of the
| press to see that it does not be-
come So. The speculation by which
alleged bOOms are made possible should
! be discouraged, in order that capitalists
who desire to invest their money in
! Southern enterprises may do so without
! fear of deception and consequent loss.
I The press should look closely into new
! schemes, and condemn those that have no
basis except in the fancy Of their projec.
! tors.
The War Department is collecting in
formation concerning the strength of the
militia of the country. The appropria.
ton for the maintenance of the militia
this year is quite respectable, and that is
the reason for this activity on the part of
the War Department. The reports for
| the year just ended show an increase of
about 1000 in the organized branch OF
the militia force and nearly a million in
the unorganzed. There are now over
$4,000 militiamen in a state of thorough
organization, and over 100000 men
available for military service. Toe War
Department is also gathering Information
as to the facilities possessed by the differ
ent railroads for the transportation Of
troops. Probably the little talk of war
with England over the question of the
fisheries has something to do with this
activity With regard to the militia.
Those who know DR.. McGlynn and
have been witnesses Of his charities, and
his work as priest, sympathize with
him and are ready to say good word for
! him, but those who have never been
| brought in contact with him cannot fail
to think that he has been dealt with justly
and even kindly. If he mad gone no
| further than to express belief that pri-
Vate property in land is opposed to nat
ural justice, he might have been permit
ted to entertain that proposition as
debatable one, but when he said: Il
would bring about instantly, if could,
such change OF laws all the world over as
would contiscate private property IN
land, without one penny of compensa-
! ton to the miscalled owners ne deprived
himself OF whatever sympathy from the
! public that he otherwise might have had.
The President is talked about more than
any other man at Washington, and he
knows it. The talk is not dong his pros
poets for a second term any harm, how
! ever. In fact, ii is thought the more talk
| he occasions the greater the probability
is that he VIII be renominated. Mrs.
cleveland is certainly the popular part
or the administration. Everybody mas a
! good word for her and she has smile for
everybody. She is thought 10 be prettier
than when she first appeared at the White
House as bride. She is more mature in
appearance and manners, and is more
charming in every way.
A correspondent OF the Alta California
wants to know the origin of the term
"kick the bucket" as a synonym for
death or dying. He says that paper used
it lately and hence the query. The phrase
originated from the habits OF miners or
well diggers, when their work is done,
kicking the bucket as a signal to be
hauled up. So the dying man, his work
being done, kicks the bucket, TO be hoisted
into the upper world. This, the Alta
thinks, is undoubtedly the origin. Notes
and Queries throws no light on the sub
ject.
France appears TO be rapidly losing her
wine trade, owing to the falling OF in her
| production OF wine. This years vintage